Captain Arthur Cobby

Places
Accession Number ART03180
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 76.4 x 64.2 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil on canvas
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Date made 1920
Conflict Period 1920-1929
First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Captain (later Air Commodore) Arthur Henry Cobby, DSO, DFC and two Bars, MID (later also CBE, AFC, and GM), was one of the most daring pilots in the Australian Flying Corps during WW1, bringing down twenty-nine enemy machines. No 4 Squadron was equipped with Sopwith Camel fighters, which flew over France in 1917. He joined the RAAF on its formation in 1921 and retired in 1936 with the rank of Wing Commander. On the outbreak of the war in 1939 he was recalled to the Air Force and in 1944 with the rank of Air Commodore he was appointed Air Officer Commanding the first Tactical Air Force.